TWELFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Also Read: Mass Readings for 20 June 2021
First Reading: Job 38: 1, 8-11
Who controls the storms and the seas?
The Lord speaks to Job out of the whirlwind and asks Job to answer his questions. Who shut the doors for the seas, created clouds as its garments. Swaddled its darkness and prescribed bounds, so to stop its proud waves? In a rhetorical round of questioning, God himself makes us realize how awesomely and fearfully powerful He is! The author here likens the seas to an infant and its swaddling.
Imagining the unruly waters bursting forth from the depths and being wrapped in darkness, brings into perspective the magnificence of God’s mighty power. Are we acutely and actively aware of God’s immense greatness and power? Do we act in reverence of him, daily? Or are we being blinded to keep at our vile ways of living?
May we truly know and act in reverence of the supremacy of God in our lives. Amen!
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 107: 23-24, 25-26, 28-29, 30-31
So we praise Him in the storms!
Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind. (31)
Oh, that today, in the midst of our storms were we to praise God for his mighty deeds; we would know his love. We would praise him, because we know he holds us in the storms and covers the seas we face! Amen!
Second Reading: Second Corinthians 5: 14-17
Everything has become new!
So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! (17)
According to recent news articles, there is a new creation taking place all over the world. New species are being found as of now -species in the sea and in remote forests! Do we find a new reckoning, deep within the untouched premises of our souls? Are we aware of the spring of new birth, resurgent within the confines of our long-forgotten memories/ talents/ relationships? Do we desist and resist these new spurts of life? Are we courageous enough to let the new life form, take root, and bloom within us?
Come O Holy Spirit, warm the frozen, melt the chill; Bend the stubborn heart and will. If we truly believed we are in Christ, we would not hinder our recreation! Be courageous and bloom! Amen!
Gospel: Mark 4: 35-41
Why are you afraid, have you still no faith?
He said to them, “Why are you afraid, have you still no faith?” (40)
If we have followed the Lord and if it is the evening when the storm has struck us; we must be assured that Christ is at the stern of our boat! He told us to get here, then why are we afraid? He calmed that storm 2000 years ago and is calming the storm inside each of us today; if we listen!
Amen! Praise God!
